Blueberry plant named &#39;flr14-372&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘FLR14-372’ is a new and distinct southern highbush blueberry ( Vaccinium corymbosum  L.) variety distinguished by a low chilling requirement, semi-upright growth habit, and firm, crunchy, and early-maturing fruit that are sweet and aromatic with a small, dry picking scar.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of European Community Plant Breeders Rights Appl. No. 20191682, filed Jul. 09, 2019, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Vaccinium corymbosum L.

Variety denomination: ‘FLR14-372’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct hybrid variety of southern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) named ‘FLR14-372’. ‘FLR14-372’ is a blueberry clone distinguished by its very low chilling requirement, very good performance when grown in an evergreen production system, very early ripening, and firm berries with excellent flavor. Several thousand plants of ‘FLR14-372’ have been propagated and established in Lalla Mimouna, Morocco, and the resulting plants have all been phenotypically indistinguishable from the original plant.

‘FLR14-372’ originated as a seedling from a cross between ‘Snowchaser’ as the female (seed) parent and ‘FL04-174’ (unpatented) as the male (pollen) parent. This cross was made in Lalla Mimouna, Morocco in 2014. The seedling was planted in a high-density field nursery in 2015 and the first fruit were evaluated during the same year. Due to its early fruit production and excellent fruit quality, ‘FLR14-372’ was selected and first asexually propagated in Lalla Mimouna, Morocco by softwood stem cuttings. In 2016, an experimental 10-plant test plot was established as part of a variety test in Lalla Mimouna Morocco. Based on the growth, yield, and fruit quality of this plot, ‘FLR14-372’ was repropagated by softwood stem cuttings and in 2017 experimental test plots were established at two other farms in Morocco. These plots have been observed during flowering and ripening each year, and no mutations or off-type plants have been observed.

‘Snowchaser’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,503) is an important southern highbush blueberry variety widely planted in the United States. ‘FLR14-372’ is believed to be most similar to ‘Snowchaser.’ Nonetheless, ‘FLR14-372’ and ‘Snowchaser’ are distinguishable at least in their fruit production, pedicel length at time of anthesis, leaf shape, and leaf pubescence at the margins. Specifically, the claimed plant produces fruit six weeks earlier than ‘Snowchaser’ The fruit of ‘FLR14-372’ is also consistently firmer than the fruit of ‘Snowchaser’ throughout the harvest season. Additionally, ‘FLR14-372’ exhibits a longer pedicel length at time of anthesis, and an elliptic leaf shape with an absence of leaf pubescence at the margins, while ‘Snowchaser’ exhibits a shorter pedicel length at time of anthesis, and an ovate leaf shape with sessile glands along the margins of the leaf blade.

Similar to ‘FLR14-372,’ ‘FLR12-89’ (U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______) is another southern highbush blueberry variety that is both characterized by very early fruit ripening, and originated from ‘Snowchaser’ as the female (seed) parent. Nonetheless, plants of ‘FLR14-372’ and ‘FLR12-89’ can be readily and unambiguously distinguished from one another at least based upon their internode length, flower clusters, and berry characteristics. Specifically, ‘FLR14-372’ exhibits shorter internode length, medium flower clusters; and berries having a crunchy texture and a very strong aroma flavor, whereas ‘FLR12-89’ exhibits longer internode length, tight flower clusters, and berries having a smooth texture and lacking a strong aroma flavor. Also, plants of ‘FLR12-89’ display a growth habit that is more compact than plants of ‘FLR14-372.’

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Blueberry variety ‘FLR14-372’ exhibits outstanding and distinguishing characteristics when grown under normal horticultural practices in Lalla Mimouna, Morocco, including: (1) a very low chilling requirement; (2) very good performance as an evergreen plant; (3) very early fruit ripening; and (4) firm berries with an excellent, aromatic flavor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show typical bush, flower, and fruit characteristics for ‘FLR14-372’. Colors shown are as true as can be reasonably reproduced by photographic procedures and may differ from those cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘FLR14-372’.

FIG. 1—Shows several clusters of flowers of ‘FLR14-372’, as observed during the early stages of flowering.

FIG. 2—Shows branches with green fruit clusters of ‘FLR14-372’ during the fruit ripening period.

FIG. 3—Shows a close-up of ripe harvested ‘FLR14-372’ berries.

FIG. 4—Shows a close-up of mature ‘FLR14-372’ leaves with a scale bar.

FIG. 5—Shows several ‘FLR14-372’ plants when grown in an evergreen production system in Lalla Mimouna, Morocco.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘FLR14-372’. The data that define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Morocco. The plants were 2 years of age when the data was collected. Certain characteristics may vary with plant age. Certain characteristics may vary with plant age. ‘FLR14-372’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions, and the measurements given may vary when grown in different environments. Where means are given, the sample size was 10. Color descriptions are based on The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart by The Royal Horticultural Society, London, Fifth Edition, 2007. When the R.H.S. color designations differ from the accompanying photographs, the R.H.S. color designations are accurate.

Phenotypic Description of Vaccinium corymbosum L. (‘FLR14-372’)

-   Plant:     -   -   Plant vigor.—High.         -   Growth habit.—Semi-upright.         -   Flower bud density (number) along flowering twigs in             March.—Medium to High, averaging 11.4.         -   Twigginess.—High.         -   Tendency toward evergreenness.—High.         -   Productivity.—In trials in Morocco, ‘FLR14-372’ was very             productive, with higher total yields than ‘Snowchaser’.         -   Chilling requirement.—‘FLR14-372’ has performed best under             evergreen production conditions where chilling is not             calculated. ‘FLR14-372’ flowered and leafed well in areas             receiving an average of 300 chill hours (0 to 7° C.).         -   Cold hardiness.—‘FLR14-372’ has not been grown in temperate             climates with extremely cold winter temperatures. Plants             have survived winter freezes of −2° C. without damage.         -   Ease of propagation.—In propagation by cuttings of softwood             stems, ‘FLR14-372’ has a good percentage of rooting (90%             success), superior to ‘Snowchaser’. ‘FLR14-372’ has also a             very good response to meristematic culture. -   Trunk and branches:     -   -   Suckering tendency.—High. Plants typically average 27 canes             (with observed number of canes ranging from a minimum of 24             to a maximum of 30) arising from the crown.         -   Surface texture (of strong, 6-month-old shoots observed in             March).—Smooth.         -   Surface texture (of 3-year-old and older wood).—Rough.         -   Color of new twigs observed in the field.—Yellow-green             N144D.         -   Color of 3-year-old, rough-textured canes.—Greyed-brown             N199C.         -   Internode length (strong, upright shoots measured in             March).—Mean of 24.1 mm. -   Leaves:     -   -   Length (including petiole, from tip of petiole to end of             blade).—Mean of 8.1 cm.         -   Width (at widest point).—Mean of 3.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Color.—Upper surface: Green N134B. Lower surface:             Yellow-green N147B.         -   Pubescence.—Upper surface of leaves: Absent. Lower surface             of leaves: Absent. Margins: Absent.         -   Relative time of leafing versus flowering.—When grown as an             evergreen plant, leafing is delayed relative to flowering. -   Flowers:     -   -   Arrangement.—Flowers are arranged alternately along a short,             leafless, deciduous branch.         -   Fragrance.—Strong floral fragrance.         -   Shape.—Urceolate.         -   Flowering period.—The bloom period when observed under             evergreen production in Morocco is from September to             December.         -   Cluster (tight, medium, loose).—Medium.         -   Number of flowers per cluster.—Mean of 8.4.         -   Pedicel.—Length at time of anthesis: Mean of 11.0 mm. Color             at time of anthesis: Yellow-green 144D with greyed-red 180C             on the sun-exposed side.         -   Peduncle.—Length at time of anthesis: Mean of 17.3 mm. Color             at time of anthesis: Green 142C with greyed-red 179A on             sun-exposed side.         -   Calyx.—Surface texture: Smooth. Diameter: Mean of 7.6 mm.             Color (outer surface, visible at the time of anthesis             without removing the corolla tube): Green 138C to Red 47B on             calyx lobes.         -   Corolla.—Diameter: Mean of 7.4 mm. Length (from pedicel             attachment point to corolla tip excluding the pedicel): Mean             of 7.9 mm. Aperture diameter: Mean of 5.0 mm. Texture:             Smooth. Color: White 155B. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Style.—Length (top of ovary to stigma tip): Mean of 7.6 mm.             Color: Yellow-green 145B. Location of tip of stigma relative             to lip of the corolla — Stigma tip is approximately even to             1 mm outside the corolla lip.         -   Anthers.—Color: Greyed-orange N167B. Pollen — Abundance of             shed: Medium. Color: Orange-white 159B.         -   Self-fruitfulness.—Low to medium. Planting in field             configurations that promote cross fertilization with other             southern highbush varieties is recommended for all southern             highbush blueberry plants. -   Fruit:     -   -   Mean date of 50% harvest in Lalla Mimouna, Morocco.—February             25.         -   Diameter of calyx aperture on mature berry.—Mean of 10.1 mm.         -   Size and shape of calyx lobes on mature berry.—Small and             very erected.         -   Pedicel length on ripe berry.—Mean of 11.8 mm.         -   Detachment force for ripe berries (easy, medium, hard).—Hard             on the first fruits, but easy during the full harvest.         -   Number of berries per cluster.—Mean of 7.9.         -   Fruiting type.—On one-year-old and current season's shoots. -   Berry:     -   -   Cluster (tight, medium, loose).—Medium.         -   Weight (on well-pruned plants).—Mean of 1.8 grams. The first             harvested fruits average roughly 3 grams.         -   Height.—Mean of 12.8 mm.         -   Width.—Mean of 17.0 mm.         -   Shape.—Oblate.         -   Surface color of mature berries ripe on the             plant.—Violet-blue 98D.         -   Surface color of ripe berry after polishing.—Greyed-purple             N186A.         -   Immature berry color, with bloom.—Greyed-green 193B.         -   Immature berry color without bloom.—Yellow-green N144C.         -   Surface wax.—Medium to high. The surface wax on ‘FLR14-372’             has only moderate persistence.         -   Pedicel scar.—Small and dry. Mean of 2.7 mm.         -   Firmness.—Very firm.         -   Flavor.—Sweet with a very strong aroma.         -   Texture.—Crunchy. -   Seeds:     -   -   Color of dried seeds.—Greyed-orange N167A.         -   Length of well-developed dried seed.—Mean of 1.8 mm.         -   Width of well-developed dried seed.—Mean of 1.0 mm. -   Use: ‘FLR14-372’ produces southern highbush blueberries suitable for     fresh markets. ‘FLR14-372’ has performed best in trials when grown     under an evergreen management system. -   Resistance to diseases, insects, and mites: ‘FLR14-372’ has grown     vigorously and shows excellent bush survival when grown under     protected cultivation in an evergreen management system. It appears     to be moderately resistant to root rot (Phytophthora cinnamomi).     ‘FLR14-372’ appears to have excellent resistance to the fungal     species that cause summer leaf spots. Resistance of ‘FLR14-372’ to     fungal leaf spots, Botrytis fruit rot, and powdery mildew     (Microsphaera vaccinia) is greater than that of ‘Snowchaser’,     although we could observe under certain conditions a low sensitivity     to powdery mildew (Microsphaera vaccinia). 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of southern highbush blueberry plant named ‘FLR14-372’, as illustrated and described herein. 